How to charge an iPad Air 2 from a power outlet in Japan

Instructions showing how to charge an iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet with the Lightning Apple cable with a Type A power adapter and recharging an iPad Air 2 using a three pin Type B USB adapter.

Japanese power outlet

Various standards and plugs can all be confusing when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. These guidelines have been written to prepare people wanting to power the iPad Air 2 when they are visiting Japan.When going to Japan this page contains instructions showing powering your iPad Air 2 by using the standard B or A type 100 volt 60Hz plug outlets, a majority of Japanese normally use the Type B power outlets. If your iPad Air 2 charges slowly or does not power up when you are travelling to Japan from a different country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically electrical devices which originated from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that the device is dual-voltage (you'll find these are normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on an iPad Air 2.

Charging an iPad Air 2 in Japan

Can you use an iPad Air 2 in Japan?

Yes, you can use an iPad Air 2 in Japan by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for an iPad Air 2 in Japan?

If travelling to more than one country and bringing along more than just your iPad Air 2 the best travel power adapter for Japan to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different types of plug sockets that Japanese use (B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by switching the supplied heads over. If your iPad Air 2 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times with one of these travel adapters, and support for more power hungry devices like tablets. Unlike other chargers this will also allow you to power multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring multiple travel chargers for your trip to Japan or using up additional wall sockets. By only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage. Because of their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used when you return home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

We recommend searching for a multipurpose travel adapter like this at an electronics retailer, the multipurpose power charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Japan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air 2, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power adapter for travellers originating from America visiting Japan.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Japan. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for an iPad Air 2 in Japan?

How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple connector with a Type A power charger to recharge an iPad Air 2 with a Japanese power outlet.

  1. To supply power to your iPad Air 2 from the Japanese power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], normally supplied with the device.
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Japanese power outlet. You can identify the plug outlet by 2 thin adjacent slots next to each other where the pins go.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB Apple Lightning power cord into the bottom of the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Switch on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Type B power adapter to charge an iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air 2 from the Japanese power outlet you will need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will usually supply this USB cable when you buy the iPad Air 2.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Japanese power outlet. You can identify the plug outlet by 2 thin slots adjacent to each other where the short twin blades sit with a single hole below for the slightly longer ground pin.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple USB cord into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Switch on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad Air 2 will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up which takes between 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Japanese power outlet

See also

  1. Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization Web Site
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..